Gaokao part one

Gaokao is the 'really big really important end of sixth form' exam.  It is fiercely competitive and very important.   I wasn't sure how important it was so I thought Id go and see for myself.
I got up early, went to the school, bought my breakfast and went to the office to eat it.  As I was eating I got a text from my boss telling me that I was not allowed in school.  Ooops!  I finished eating and went to leave.  Everywhere was taped off with Police tape.  Police and swat SWAT were everywhere and they had set up two metal detectors in the yard.  Oh Oh!  maybe I wasn't getting out!  I walked slowly to the gate, and one of the officers lifted the tape for me and I got out!  Phew!  After my dealings with the banks, I now have a great fear of 'getting into any trouble' here.  I imagine just getting stuck in the system somewhere, nobody knowing where I am!  Anyway all was ok this time!  When i got off premises I watched. The roads had been taped off and maybe twenty Police and SWAT officers were hanging around.  Their boss turned up and things started.  They moved the people, the cars and ynthing else that was not 'official'

The kids started to assemble in the yard, each class behind it Chinese flag.  Then then the Police car arrived, followed by the SWAT wagon and numerous buses full of kids from nearby schools.  I was not sure why they were there, but it appears my school had enough rooms for everyone, so they all came there!  Probably a couple of thousand. They all poured out the buses and into the school.  As I watched it all, the woman from the Nongfu Spring water tent came over and we chatted.  She gave me a bottle of water, much needed, and asked for a few publicity photos.  Why not!  It runs out that the only other foreigner I have seen in Jiangkou, is a German Engineer working for their company!  I was so surprised to see another foreigner that I just stood and looked, open-mouthed.  Just the way the locals look at me!  Haha



Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Breakfast with Sherrie and the half marathon.

Image
Last night on my way home from the park, I got a text from Sherrie, Star's wife.  She invited me to breakfast the following day after exercise, or at least that was what I thought she had done, it turns out she invited me TO exercise as well as to breakfast. I knew there was some sort of run planned as the park had been transformed, but I did not know when the race was.  As luck would have it as I arrived the race was due to start.  I hung around near the exit tunnel and got ready to take photos.  I hate watching stuff like this because I so wish I could still run.  I am actually having trouble walking at the moment and that aggravates me even more.  Anyway, they were off.... but not as I expected, after all, this is China!  First came the keen ones in the proper gear, but shortly afterwards came a raggle taggle bunch of all sorts, most of them carrying umbrellas!  It was a big event for Jiangkou, policve, media, etc, and the main rod closed to ...
Read more

Back to the earlier job and WeChat

After today's interview, one of my earlier contacts got in touch with me as I had sent him a request on Sunday.  We cleared up a few questions and he promised to put me in touch with a contact at the proposed school and send me a contract.  Meanwhile two other job agents/companies have been in touch and I need to start logging what is happening or I will lose track!  As for WeChat, I wish it would sync between my PC and my phone, like it used to.  Apparently the messages are not now kept on a server...for my privacy.  It is a real nuisance having half the messages on my phone and half on my PC.
Read more

Yanxi - the most moving school visit yet. Part 1

Image
My area boss is called Jamie, we don't quite see eye to eye at the moment, and that is not just because he is about two feet smaller than me!  Anyhow on Tuesday I got a call telling me that he had sorted out a trip to a school and that I was to prepare an English club lesson.  I also had to tell Sherika my colleague. There was also one other person going with us,  Sonya, another Jamaican.  I told Sherika nd she did not seem impressed.  I set up a Wechat group and relayed messages from Jamie.  Sonya also did not seem impressed.  The were both discussing whether or not they would go.  In order to help things along and because I had done English club many more times than them, I offered to plan all the activities and all they would have to do was perform.  They both said that if they were going, then I they would prepare the work themselves.  I told them what topics I would be doing and planned my lessons.  I checked with Sherika seve...
Read more